Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Asia Knight, an information technology specialist and native of Fayetteville,...... read more read more
FORT POLK, La. — Being a single parent in the Army is a daunting and demanding task, but as Pfc. Asia Knight, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, has proven, it is by no means impossible.
The 19-year old Fayetteville, N.C., native has not only proven to be an excellent Paratrooper according to her superiors, but has also successfully juggled all the responsibilities of being a single parent as well.
"I joined because I was at a dead-end job, sitting behind a desk all day, doing the same thing over and over, and I was ready for something new," Knight, who enlisted in January 2008, explained. "Another motivation was my daughter, taking care of her, and getting those benefits."
Knight's, 2-year old daughter, Jaidyn, was born on May 14, 2007, just eight months prior to Knight attending Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
"Basic was hard because she didn't really remember me after," Knight said of her daughter. "It took her a few days to actually warm up to me again."
Although Knight left her baby at home, she excelled at and even liked her basic training experience.
"It was, at first, difficult because I wasn't physically fit. The running was the worst part," Knight said. "The first time I shot a weapon it was a shock to me. I would close my eyes every time I would fire, but I got used to it and I got pretty good. I enjoyed it."
Knight then attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga., where she qualified as an Information Technology Specialist. From there she moved to Fort Benning, Ga. to attend Airborne school, and after earning her jump wings, Knight settled in at her first duty station, Fort Bragg, N.C.
"When I first got to the unit, one day I said, 'I can't come in,' and they said, 'Oh, it's okay. Stay at home with your daughter and make sure she's okay,' and I ended up missing two days of work. So I felt kind of bad because I just got there and I ended up missing work, but they were very cool about it," Knight said.
Knight quickly warmed up to her co-workers during the first few months in her new unit, according to her first-line supervisor Spc. Tim Worley.
"At first she was real shy, real quiet, but we broke her of that pretty quickly," Worley said. "Now she's starting to learn the tricks of the trade."
According to Knight, she also had to warm up to her new schedule, which typically includes 14-hour days.
"I wake up between four and four-thirty. I get myself ready and I will get her ready. I go to [Physical Training] at 6:30 and then get to work at 9," Knight said. "I work with user problems; people who can't get on the Internet or can't check their mail. Simple problems. 5:30 or 6 I get off, and I do it all over again Monday through Friday."
Knight added that her supervisors and peers make sure she has the help she needs to succeed at home and in the office.
"They're very understanding of when I do have to leave work and take her to appointments, so it's not difficult for me," Knight said. "Without working with people who understand, it would be hard for me to do what I have to do as a parent also. They help me out a lot. They ask me if I need anything or if everything is okay at home."
Knight's mother and Jaidyn's paternal grandparents also live in Fayetteville, which gives Knight a break from the demands of being both a single parent and a Paratrooper.
"It allows me to do my job without it interfering with my job," Knight said of the assistance she receives from her family. "So whenever I need them there to take care of her, I can say, 'Hey, I have to go out to the field for three weeks, can you take care of her?' It's a big help."
Even with her managing her extra responsibilities, Knight has become a valuable addition to their team according to Sgt. 1st Class Donald Hontz, automations non-commissioned officer for 4th BCT, 82nd Abn. Div.
"She's quiet, but she's one of our moneymakers when it comes to work. She knows her stuff and she wants to learn," Hontz said. "She's going to be replacing me one of these days."
Knight plans on making her life in the military a career like her father, a 27-year Army veteran. Hopefully, she said, Jaidyn will look back at Army life as a positive experience.
"At times I think it's going to be difficult for her because I know my dad was always moving around every two years, so it kind of got old and I got tired of it," Knight said. "I'm pretty sure she's going to be like, 'Mom I don't want to move anymore. I've already made my friends, now I've got to move again.' I know it's going to be difficult for her, but when I look back at it I got to experience a lot of different cultures and see a lot of different places."
Knight said she has difficulty leaving her daughter behind for her military duties, such as her brigade's current rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, but that joining the Army has been the best decision she has made.
"It affected a lot of things. I'm able to take college courses and still do my job and get paid and still be a mother at the same time," Knight said. "If I wasn't in the Army it would be very difficult to do all of that, so the Army has opened up a lot of opportunities for me to do different things and advance in my career, and one day be a sergeant major."
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2009 17:48 |
| Story ID: | 32293 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 231 |
| Downloads: | 186 |
This work, A true Army of One, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
